Raffaele Riefoli, known professionally as RAF, was born on September 29, 1959, in Margherita di Savoia, Italy. He burst onto the international music scene in 1984 with the hit single ''Self Control'', which topped charts worldwide, including the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States through Laura Branigan's version. His debut album, titled RAF, was released later that year, featuring other successful singles such as ''Change Your Mind'' and ''Hard.''
RAF's songwriting prowess was highlighted in 1987 when he penned ''Si Può Dare Di Più'' for the trio Morandi-Ruggeri-Tozzi, winning the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival. That same year, he co-wrote and performed ''Gente Di Mare'' with Umberto Tozzi, achieving widespread success across Europe and finishing third at the Eurovision Song Contest.
His 1988 album Svegliarsi un Anno Fa showcased RAF's blend of modern sounds with traditional Italian songwriting, which continued to place him in the Top 10 charts. He remained a fixture at Sanremo, returning in 1989 with ''Cosa Resterà Degli Anni Ottanta'' from his album of the same name. The song ''Ti Pretendo'' became the summer hit of 1989, dominating the Festivalbar competition.
In 1991, RAF hit the charts with ''Interminatamente'' and impressed at Sanremo with the ballad ''Oggi un Dio non ho.'' His album from that year, Sogni... È Tutto Quello Che C'è, featured multiple hits, further solidifying his status in the music industry.
RAF's 1993 album Cannibali went six times platinum and included hits like ''Il Battito Animale'' and ''Stai Con Me'', while addressing contemporary social issues. In 1995, he innovated with the album Manifesto, which included a free CD-ROM, ''Interagendo'' — a pioneering move in the music industry.
Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, RAF continued to evolve musically and remained highly popular. His albums La Prova and Iperbole showcased his adaptability and appeal, with hits consistently topping the charts. His engagement with cultural and charitable efforts was highlighted in 2003 when he became a spokesperson for Legambiente and initiated projects like bringing water to school gardens in Ecuador.
RAF remained active in the new millennium, releasing several albums, including Numeri in 2011, which saw significant commercial success and was followed by a successful tour. He ventured into multimedia in 2012, lending his voice to the character Francoeur in the animated film Un Mostro A Parigi. By 2015, he returned to the Sanremo Festival with ''Come Una Favola'' and released the album Sono Io. His continuing influence and longevity in the music industry were celebrated with a joint tour with Umberto Tozzi in 2018, culminating in a special performance at the Arena di Verona.
On 8 November 2024, RAF marked a major milestone with ''Self Control 40th Anniversary'', a special concert-event at the Unipol Forum in Milan celebrating four decades since the release of his defining international hit. The evening brought together a host of guests — including J-Ax and Umberto Tozzi — who performed some of his greatest songs alongside him, from ''Il Battito Animale'' and ''Ti Pretendo'' to ''Cosa Resterà Degli Anni '80'', ''Infinito'' and ''Stai Con Me''.
At the 76th Sanremo Festival in February 2026 — his fifth appearance at the Ariston — RAF competed with ''Ora e per sempre'', adding yet another chapter to his long and distinguished relationship with Italy's most celebrated music competition. That same month and into March, he joined Marco Masini as a special guest on all seven Italian dates of Umberto Tozzi's farewell series L'Ultima Notte Rosa — The Final Show, a tribute to a friendship and artistic partnership spanning nearly four decades.
Looking ahead, RAF has announced INFINITO — Palasport 2026, three major arena concerts in October celebrating the 25th anniversary of ''Infinito'' — a song that has become one of the true evergreens of Italian music: 9 October at the Palapartenope in Naples, 12 October at the Unipol Forum in Milan and 17 October at the Palazzo dello Sport in Rome. A summer tour, Infinito — Estate 2026, will precede the arena dates, confirming that after more than forty years, RAF's connection with live performance and his audience remains as vital as ever.
